Tools

[Wrider]

Lol yeah... Just got back from my tour where I'm starting in October, at MMI, and they have a "Live-In" Snap-on rep there for "our convenience"... lol Anyway, yeah, Snap-On tends to have the best name, but the prices do suck.
Wrider

[Sev]

Personally, anything that comes with a lifetime warranty is good enough for me. Just don't abuse the tools in the first place and they'll last a long time. There's no real need to go Snap-on just for the name.

[crazypj]

Lol yeah... Just got back from my tour where I'm starting in October, at MMI, and they have a "Live-In" Snap-on rep there for "our convenience"... lol Anyway, yeah, Snap-On tends to have the best name, but the prices do suck.
Wrider

If your at MMI you get a 50% discount from Snap-On. If you think they are expensive now, wait til you join the 'real world'
PJ

[tcreeley]

- The few snap on tools I've used I didn't like. They were clunky and large. They didn't fit into tight places all that well. I always look for a slim a tool I can find with a lifetime warrantee. I used to like bonney and SK. Craftsman is ok . Anything that says "professional" is usually for the highend homeowner. Look for tools marked "industrial" as a rule. Buy the minimum now and pick up the individual tools as you need them. You'll buy what you want then. Always get a lifetime guarrantee. - And sears is now trying to replace broken wrenches with reconditioned wrenches. Insist on a new one!

TC

[erbgottie]

I use a large set of KOBALT tools and haven't had one issue and having the truck, a mini buggy, and motorcycle I've used them a lot.

[crazy5dave]

Im a motorcycle mechanic, and went to MMI in 2003. I bought all the 50% off snapon they would let me. $4,500 worth. boy im i gald. the tools are epensive, then pay full price. I worked in American and jobs gave me tool lists and asked if i had them all. i did. if not you had 3 monthes to get them. noone wants you in their box every hour borrowing tools. Snap-on is great so is mac, matco. I like Mac wrenches better. 90% of my box is Snap-on. When i worked in the USA, every week all three came to our dealership, they will have monthly sales and such. there is compation among them all. I live in Japan now, and Snap-on/MAc is almost double the American price which is insane. Craftman is not going to work for your core tools. I own craftman for stuff i use a couple times a year, but need to have it. I use craftman for specality/custom tools. like cutting sockets or wrenches, just to do one thing, on one model, one place. youll do it if you work on bikes in a shop. The shop will have all manditory specality tools as required by a manufacturer. they just send them along with the bill every year. H-d uses Kent-Moore, can you say Spent-More. not my problem. sorry but Craftman is not really going to do it for everyday mechanic tools. Really.

[dablade]

Although I worked on cars for years, and not bikes, I do have thousands of dollars wrapped up in tools. If you are going to buy snap-on, buy used ones. When you break them, they will be replaced with new ones, regardless of what you paid for them, or from whom. For stuff I use infrequently, or where indestructible is not an issue, I try www.harborfreight.com. Some is total junk, but other stuff is suitable for daily use. And at a small fraction of the price of name brand stuff. 2 bucks for a tool that gets you out of a bind, and you end up breaking it, is still a bargain.
Regards,
Perry

[slimcolo]

I carry cheap tools in my tool bag and leave my snap ons in the shop. I tend to lose tools carried on bike.

[Rainman]

Definitely go the snap-on for core stuff and look for used!! I used to wrench some 14 years or so ago, and it was expensive then. I would go to the flea markets, used tool shops, and buy from others if they were selling.

Craftsman are ok, good enough for general wrenching around the house, but not good enough. Take a craftsman combination wrench and compare to a mac for the same size, or a crafstman swivel ratchet compared to a snap-on. Some items, like channelocks are best from only channel lock! Remember this is how you are making a living, and without your tools you are useless to the dealer.


Most of your other co-workers will loan tools, but they do expect you to be building up your tool chest and returning them in the same condition.

I did the craftsman stuff, and then started purchasing the good stuff as I could afford it. This allowed me to have something, and have the crapsman for backup wrench/sockets/screwdrivers.

If you are just getting into this adventure, I strongly suggest you consider long term career and health choices. I wrenched from 18 to 23 at a import dealership and independent shop. Opening up brake drums full of asbestos, working outside on 100 degree heat, getting rust in my eye and having it cut out by a surgeon. Talk to other technicians that have been in the business for a while.

[ofblong]

A lot of times snap on mac and matco will offer a discount for students. They did for us here in GA anyway. I have found that some of the craftsman stuff will work for a professional mechanic, but some will be thrown away in a week. I would stay away from cheap ratchets, they will brake with the amount of work a professional will be doing.

Basically, snap on is MUCH better then other low end brands, but you can definitely get away with SOME cheaper stuff.

Oh, if a snap on or mac etc. man comes to your work place then replacing tools is as easy as going to work and walking on the truck. Much better then driving to sears. That is if one comes to your work place.

Maybe look into craftsman professional tools. I never tried them but hear they are ok quality.

what do you consider cheap ratchets? Craftsman makes some very nice open end ratchet wrenches that are friggen awesome. I use mine every day at work and they come in very handy on thos hard to reach places that a normal wrench just doesnt cut it as it takes forever to get that bolt out. The craftsmen ratchets you only need to be able to turn the wrench 5 degrees to be able to keep moving that bolt.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 5&sLevel=0

those are what I am talking about. A little on the higher price side and something you can always obtain later on but imo an awesome investment.

as far as snap-on the only people I see live by snap on are people that are like the Harley only crowd. Either you own a Harley or you aint nothing. Snap on is good but they arent something to brag about. I mean you tell someone you got only snap on tools and they will be like "and your point is what exactly?". I use craftsman tools at work because my employer bought me my tools (which means I dont get to take them home when I retire lol) but at home I have been replacing my Husky tool set with master mechanic tools as I can afford them (as evident by my blog viewtopic.php?t=25178&highlight=).